Trace-adjuster



(No Model.)

F. LOHR.

TRACE ADJUSTER.

No. 306,165. Patented Oct. '7, 1884.

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WTTNEssEs: f TNVBNTOR l ATTORNEY N PETERS4 Fhowlnmgnpher. lllllllllllll C UNITED 'STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK LOHR, OFA FREEIORT, ILLINOIS.

TRAC E-ADJ USTE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 306,165, dated October 7, 1884.

Application tiled March 27, 1884. (No model.) A

To a/ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK Lone, a resident of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trace-Ad justers; and I do hereby declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improved device for varying the length of a trace or tug without the use of a buckle. It is fully described and explained in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan of the device, showing the parts and their connection, the covering D of the box A being partly removed to show the construction of the mechanism; Fig. 2, a side view of same; Fig. 3, a perspective view of a portion of the box A; Fig. 4, a botA tom plan of the blade H, head H, and springcatches pivoted thereon; and Fi g. 5,a side elevation of same.

In these views, B is a trace formed by stitching together two leather straps, and H a metallic blade lying between the straps and' pierced by a series of holes, I, through which pass rivets L, Fig. 1, which secure the blade between the straps. The blade H is narrower than the trace, and is provided with an integrally-formed head, H, which lies outside of and at the end ofthe trace,and is of the samewidth as the trace. On one side of the head H are pivoted two out wardly-extending hooks,

y E E', which swing about the pivots J J, re-

spectively, and on the inner faces of the hooks E E are two bosses, O O', which holdin place a coiled spring, S, whose force presses apart the hooks. On the same side of the head H with the hooks E E is a stationary pin, K, so placed as to preventthe rear ends of thehooks from swinging in past the center of the head, and each ofthe hooks is provided with a lug, M, lying in the plane of the blade H and head H. The head H', hooks E E', and blade H, and the end of the trace to which they are attached enter a rectangular box or trough,

A, formed preferably with a bottom of the same width as the trace and two sides or edges of a width slightly greater than the combined thickness of the head H and hooks E E. The end of the box at which the hooks enter it is strengthened by a cross-bar, G, which also serves as a guide for the trace, and the vopposite end is provided with an integrally-formed loop, F, adapted to receive a strap, C, or to be' fastened directly to the haine. In the sides of the box are a series of holes, c a, preferably rectangular in shape, and adapted to receive the ends of the hooks E E. Ihe entire box A has a leather` case or covering, D, and the holes a in the box A cxtend through the covering D as well.

It is evident from the description and drawings that the head H and hooks E E may be moved longitudinally in the box A at will; that whenever'the hooks coincide with two opposite holes, a a, the pressure of the spring S will Aforce the hooks into the holes, when they will resist longitudinal pressure, especially in the direction in which force must necessarily be applied to the trace, and that upon the application of pressure to the points ofthe hooks from without they may be forced into the space within the walls of the box, when the head H may be again moved at will. The length of the entire trace may thus be varied at pleasure without using a buckle and without bending the leather of the trace.

The box A, instead of being open on one side, as shown, may be closed on four sides, if

desired, and the openings a a may be in the top and bottom, instead of in the edges, as shown in the drawings.

One of the hooks E E may be dispensed with and the holes a be formed only in one side of the box; but the use of A two hooks engaging with opposite sides of the box gives greater strength and more direct draft, and I therefore consider it preferable.

Having now described my invention and explained its operation, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

`1. The combination of the box A, `having `the openings a a in its opposite faces, the

trace B, blade H, secured therein, hooksE E',

pvoted to said blade, and spring S, forcing In testimony whereof I have signed this 1o said hooks apart, substantially as shown and specification in the presence of two subscribdeseribed, and for the purpose set forth. ing Witnesses.

2. The combination of the blade H, head I 5 H', hooks E E, spring S, pin K, and lugs FRANK LOI-IR.

M, with the box A, having a series of openings, a a, in each of its two opposite sides, substantially as shown and described, and 'for the purpose set forth.

Vitnesses:

ZELLA Tonus, l VALLACE 

